1 Year – 5000 miles

Holly very kindly drove me back to Kilmorie, Torquay, so I could continue from where I finished yesterday.

Holly dropping me off at KilmorieFirst was an easy walk along the very quiet road that curves around the headland. The light was fairly flat so views across Tor Bay were not as good as yesterday.

looking along Babbacombe BayPresently I entered woodland that covered the cliff side, reminding me of North Devon. It was a very hot day, which got sunnier, so it was a relief to be in the shade at times.

Anstey’s Cove, surrounded by treesmuch of the day spent in the woods, hiding from the hot sunThe beaches around Babbacombe Bay were all tucked into the base of steep cliffs and most required a long walk downhill to reach them. Oddicombe Beach did have a cliff railway, but I walked underneath it, traversing up through the woods.

fantastic sandstone cliffs towering over Oddicombe BeachOddicombe Beach and cliff railwayIt was a very hilly walk today, again reminding me of the North Coast of Devon and Cornwall. In the still air it was very sticky but worth it for the views.

a view though the trees to Hope’s NoseAt Maidencombe I walked down the steep hill to the small beach and sat at the Beach Box Cafe for some lunch. The proprietor was busy making beef burgers for an evening BBQ that he will be doing throughout the summer (this concept of beach cafes opening for evening meals seems to be gaining traction all over the South West).

sat outside the Beach Box Cafe at Maidencombe BeachAfter lunch I was more exposed as the trees disappeared. Fortunately it wasn’t too far to Shaldon and the River Teign but a hat and plenty of suntan lotion was definitely required.

walking the cliffs to TeignmouthShaldon was quite pretty, facing Teignmouth across the river. Ness Beach is accessible through a, very long, smugglers’ tunnel.

Ness Beach and Teignmouth, across the river hidden from viewthe Smugglers’ Tunnel from Shaldon, through the cliff, to Ness BeachI caught the small ferry across the River Teign and wandered along Teignmouth promenade to meet Holly.

the ferry to TeignmouthDespite being sweaty, I was cooling down as clouds started rolling in and I can’t say the sea looked too inviting, so I didn’t go in. I did like the look of Teignmouth Lido though.

Caught you on R4 and been following the blog since then (probably with 1000’s of others). Your trip sounds like the adventure of a lifetime. As a fellow (early) retiree I’m looking for challenges too and have just completed LEJOG on my bike, but this seems like a wholly different (and more exciting) proposition. Inspiring ! Good luck with the rest of the trip!